My first weapon light was a demo unit, a Streamlight TLR-3. It was perfect because it was cheap and came with the insert that allowed it to fit the USP and its weird rail. The TLR-3 has long been gone, but Streamlight has brought the light back as the TLR-3X.
The TLR-3 was always the budget-friendly Streamlight. It was made from polymer to reduce weight and cost and was compact in size. It was a lot smaller than the big TLR-1. Streamlight later filled the gap in their small gun light lineup with variations of the TLR-7 and 8 series, but they never really replaced it with anything on the budget end.
With the Streamlight TLR-3X, a budget-friendly design backed by Streamlight reliability is making a comeback. The TLR-3X maintains the compact size, but is quite different from the original TLR-3.
Priced right around $100, the TLR-3X is a good $50 cheaper than anything in the TLR-7 series. That’s a good chunk of change, but at the same time, we still get a bright white light designed for compact handguns.
The TLR-3X – Lights, Lights, Lights
The TLR-3X packs 500 lumens backed by 6,500 candela. We can use SL-B9 rechargeable batteries or disposable CR123A batteries. The CR123A batteries give us 1.5 hours of power, while the rechargeable unit provides only 1 hour.
Compared to other models, including the newer models of TLR-7, the TLR-3X isn’t as powerful. I think that’s expected in a budget light. For instance a TLR-7 is 725 lumens while the TLR-3X puts out 500 lumens. The big question isn’t necessarily which one is brighter, but is the TLR-3X bright enough?
Only you can answer that question.
Would this be a bright enough light for a beat cop on patrol? I wouldn’t recommend it. A police officer needs more output and candela (how far the light is thrown) in order to identify threats at longer distances. They also need the ability to overcome photonic barriers. In some cases, they have to do both at once and need the added candela.
For the average concealed carrier and home defender, that’s not the case. And that’s where the TLR-3X shines. The 500 lumens it throws is more than enough light for indoor use. It’s bright, capable, and allows for positive target identification and can overcome most common photonic barriers at close range.
Inside a home, it’s bright and powerful enough to bounce light off the floor and ceiling for those baseboard and umbrella methods of lighting. That means you don’t have to aim the gun at a potential threat to identify it.
Outdoors, it’s powerful enough to see and, most importantly, identify targets at about 25 yards. That’s sufficient for most civilian defense situations.
Lights and Action
The beam of the TLR-3X lights up plenty of your peripheral vision. There’s a distinct center hot spot, but we get a lot of spill to maximize your peripheral vision.
This style of beam is appropriate for a concealed-carry gun. It values close-range identification, and while civilians have engaged at longer ranges, the vast majority of self-defense situations happen up close and personal.
The light tends to be fairly neutral in color. It’s a bit cooler than it is warm, but it’s hardly a blue beam.
Running and Gunning
I mounted the TLR-3X to a CZ P09 Nocturne, which is a good size gun for a smaller weapon light. I was already testing an optic on it, and it was a great combination. As I fired 500 rounds through the Nocturne, the TLR-3X rode along, soaking up all the recoil.
Some of the shooting was done while the light was turned on, and I used a camera to look for flicker or failure during recoil. I saw none — not even a little — as I fired the gun as rapidly as possible. By the time I was done, the lens needed a wipe down, but the light held up just fine.
The TLR-3X allows users to switch between high and low switch positions based on preferences. That’s a nice touch on such an affordable weapon light.
The TLR-3X comes in three configurations. I have the 1913 rail model, the basic version that fits the vast majority of guns. There is also a GLOCK slimline model for the G43X and G48, as well as a P365 model. That covers the widest variety of concealed carry firearms.
Again, the use of polymer keeps the TLR-3X lightweight. It’s a mere 2.25 ounces with a battery. The overall length is 2.75 inches, and on roughly GLOCK-sized guns, it sits nearly flush with the barrel. It’s small, light, and bright.
Who is the TLR-3X For?
There are a lot of crappy lights out there…way too many bad lights that simply don’t hold up in real-world use. The TLR-3X offers a high-quality alternative from a first-rate maker that just about anyone can afford. For right around $100, you can get a high-quality, very capable light for defensive use from a respected, trusted company.